Tuesday, June 14, 2022

I'm still here!

I know my blogging has been pretty intermittent.  I do appreciate those of you who still come by.  Recently I got to spend a few days with cardmaking friends & didn't have to get on an airplane--yay!  It was such a treat!  Here's a few pictures Darnell put together.
It was fun to try out some techniques that were easy to do & turned out great!  I came home with quite a few panels ready to make into cards & will be using my stencils & my alcohol inks a lot more!
While the others were coloring, I smooshed a panel using DO inks stamped & spritzed on my craft mat.  It actually looked terrible!  I didn't even show anyone what I'd done, but it did come home with me.  Thankfully, it looked fine once I trimmed it into a strip.  
I simply added black ink splatters & a couple PFS Delicate Blossoms black die cuts.  The white mat looked too plain, so I dry embossed it with my new SSS Refracted folder--love it!  The sentiment strip from Sweet Friend Floral was mounted with foam tape & I added black enamel dots.  I'm entering PFS June Monthly Challenge & TicTacToe 165 using Die Cut, Embellishment, Bright Colors.

Next is my entry for PTI Melissa's Fab Friday Feature stencil challenge.  I only have PTI alpha stencils & I used that for the last stencil challenge.  Decided to make my own stencil this time & used What the Doodle Snowflake outline dies cut from vellum scraps.  
I brushed Spring Rain through the stencils & then stamped the detailed images using Dark Indigo.  I really like the contrast on the white card, even though it's subtle.  I used the same ink to stamp the small snowflakes & the sentiment from Wreath for all Seasons.  
My usual color combo for snowflake cards is blue & silver, but this time I changed it up using Pink Stickles in the centers.  Really love the bit of pink sparkle!  I finished off with Raindots & a Dark Indigo mat.  
My last card is for Poppystamps June challenge to make a masculine card.  Gentle Leaf Collage is one of my favorite Poppystamps dies.  I made my own stencil a few years ago & it still works great.  The Distress Oxides I used are fossilized amber, spiced marmalade & abandoned coral.  
After clear embossing, I used the die to emboss the image.  Next I brushed the panel with DO vintage photo.  It needed something, so I partially embossed with a woodgrain folder using a small hammer.  I brushed on more vintage photo & wiped a bit with a baby wipe getting variations in the color--so fun!
The sentiment is made from Marzipan Greetings & Grateful Heart.  I had forgotten about these wooden dots which were just the right embellishment.  This can be a masculine retirement or birthday card.  I'm also entering The Snippets Playground since I used white scraps for the sentiment.
Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.  If your blog address is in your profile or comment, I will visit you.



18 comments:

  1. Pretty trio of cards, Greta!! Well done on making your own stencils - I have sheets of stencil plastic ready to go but somehow never get it done!! Looks like you had a fun retreat this year too!!

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  2. Glad to see you back blogging Greta. What total fun to spend time with friends crafting. lovely set of cards. Your use of your hand made stencils is awesome

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  3. How wonderful to get away with some creative friends and just play! I like the black blooms on your DOX background, they really pop. We never see snow here, but I can still admire your icy card with the lovely rain dots. I've been going to try the final technique for ages now. I think your lovely card might be just the final push I need. Thanks for sharing your pretties here.

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  4. P.S. no problem with leaving a message now Greta. It worked perfectly first pop. x

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  5. Oh, how wonderful that you were able to get away with crafty friends…Colleen, Linda, and Darnell, too…miss you all!! Your cards are lovely! It’s great to experiment and create new panels, how fun! Love the colors on your first card. Second card is so pretty with the lovely snowflakes. And, last card is pure magic for your masculine card…love it!

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  6. You lucky lady, how wonderful to have a crafty get together and have fun. I LOVE the end result of your playing Greta. Such a fabulous selection of cards.
    I hope to be more regular in commentating now my new 'puter is up and running. Still a few glitches to clear up though.
    Have a great week.
    Faith x

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  7. It's great you were all able to get together and craft. I love that card you are holding in the picture. All of your retreat cards are wonderful too. It was so fun to get to see all of you and share a bit of your day.

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  8. wonderful set of cards, greta. the background you created for the third card has such a lovely warm glow. looks like you had a fun and very productive time at your crafty retreat.

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  9. Love these cards! We would love you to share your rainbow card on our challenge, Colorful Options Challenge. Cheers, Makira

    https://colorfuloptions.blogspot.com/

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  10. Three wonderful cards, Greta! I love the little pink centers you gave the snowflakes! You made your own stencil??!!....high five!

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  11. Greta, I know you all had a great time and I'm loving the pictures and the results. Your rainbow panel looks beautiful. I save everything because it might look good cut down, including for shaped die cuts and such. Beautiful snowflakes with the pink glitter centers. Really love your masculine card! The colors, the texture of the pounded woodgrain EF. Wow!

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  12. I love all your cards, Greta! SO fun! Your rainbow is gorgeous and the black silhouette flowers just pop! So happy you joined us at The TTTC this week!

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  13. You are lucky to have enjoyed a few days away with crafty friends. Thanks for sharing it with us. Your cards are great, it is interesting how things can look so much better just by trimming them, so I am glad you kept that background. My favourite of the 3 is the last one. Fabulous texture and colour. Well done xx

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  14. All three cards are beautiful, Greta! I can't imagine that first panel being disappointing because it certainly made a stunning and colorful design! I also love the pink schparkly centers of your snowflakes and how you pounded your manly design to get fabulous results - and also work out your rage, lol! It was wonderful crafting, chatting, and laughing with you and I hope we can do it again sometime! Hugs, Darnell

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  15. I think all of us at the craft retreat are in awe of your card making pace! These three are so fun and great reminders to try new techniques. It was loads of fun being with four women 24/3.5 instead of my weekly 24/7 with hubby who does not chat!

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  16. I think getting together with crafty friends is so much fun Greta especially when you don't have to fly there! All of your cards are fabulous!!

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  17. Love your cards! I truly thought the Poppystamps one was made from a small piece of wood. You nailed the effect. Thanks so much for playing along with the monthly challenge at Poppystamps.

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  18. Beautiful cards! What a great visit with friends! Jealous here! You're all rock stars to me! Hugs and love!

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Thanks so much for taking time to stop by. If your blog address is in your profile or comment, I will visit you.